The Difference Between Amateurs and Professionals In Life

“Lack of direction, not lack of time, is the problem. We all have twenty-four hour days.”

I have to admit I’m getting excited and anxious about starting my last semester of my graduate degree. I’m excited because it’s my LAST semester but anxious because I don’t know how I’m going to find the time of day to study with all the other obligations I currently have as a husband, father, coach and business owner.

I’ve had almost an entire month off for winter break, and I haven’t slowed down. I put in just as many hours working during the break as I did going to school full time and running the business.

That’s the irony of time management. When I was going to school full time, I had an intense focus because I knew I had deadlines that I had to meet but I never felt like I had enough time to do anything else. When I went on Winter break, I had all the time in the world, but I just ended up working a lot without getting very much done.

I heard it once said, “it’s about focusing on the fight and not the fright” that’s most important. I know I’m going to do great my last semester because it’s my LAST semester! I see the light!! Fear tries to sneak its way in and create excuses that I won’t have enough time in my day. I know its a lie but also understandable if it were the case.

So instead, I take it one day at a time. I meticulously plan my day the night before, so I know exactly when and where I have to be in my private office to do my school work. I stay focused, complete my to-do list for the day, head home to my family and do it all over again the next day.

My boy Stephen King said it best, “Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work.”